Toy aircraft



y 1950 I k E. w. STRONG 2,513,688

Toy AIRCRAFT Filed Feb. 26, 1948 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. [0 4 020 W ejawawy E. W. STRONG TOY AIRCRAFT Filed Feb. 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u om.

"L-"IINVENTOR. I Ida 0W0 citrowy ON 9% .31 N RN @E h Patented July 4, 1950 This invention relates to toy .or;m del;,-aircraft and the like.

A primary object of the inventionjs the construction of a t y ai r ft adap ed-inn manua takeoff although -not limited thereto andthay ing or model a t ne erab v-adap edionmanual projection into. the air ;1 an d having incorporated therein flight control means-.arranged; fr:-.operation upon projection oith rcraft; with said control means adjustable imitsspeed of action whereby the .time interval of changein, direction of the aircraft may be readily varied.

A still iurtheriaim of the invention .is the making of a toy aireraf-twh-ichfls; relatively simple in construction, durable; and, reliable; in use and which embodies novel mechanical;.;con trol ,means constituting a highly attractive device in operation.

Other objects and. advantages .01,- the invention will be readily; apparent, in the course; of the; 1:01!- lowing detailed; description, when-;.,talgen;in conT junct on, with theac om a in ud awin sain which like numerals represent lilge; partsrrgand wherein: I

Fig. 1 is-a side elevational: viewcof a toy aircraft constructed inaccordance WithaiQI fQlTIQd embodiment of the invention.

Fi 2 s a ro t vi wfo a heiaircmit h .w.n.=:.,in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3is a top plan View of:;the.air crait,

Fig. 4- is a slightly-enlarged longitudinalrv ertical sectionalview disclosing indetailthe means for imparting movement: tothe movable wings of the aircraft.

Fig. 5 is a substantially; enlarged transverse sectional view: taken on-line -5-.-.-.-5. of -Figt Fig. 6 is a side view of oneofithepcam plates, the view being .on the samescale as Fig -fi;

Fig. '7 is an edge viewof one ofzthe cam; ate supporting disks as ObSeIiVQd:.. in pthe plane of; line 1-1 in Fig..8;-and v Fig. 8 is a front 'VlBW Off,thBzdiSknShQWIlgiIl Fig. 7. g

Referring now in,.;d etail to-.; the;;drawingsnzby numerals, l0 designates the body or fuselage- :of-. the novel toy aircraft:-andawhion;as;,shown,.is pr i a ly of substantially; Cy indrica1;-:f01tm, shut: is; not. limited; tOySLlQl'L-ifOlI-Hli; asnthe body maybe of different; cross-sectiongwithoutrinianywayrat footing the. character: of ithe instantginvention.

The riuselage orxbodyr 1 D visopreferablye of "sub-- .:stantialrlengthand is: provided at its rear endarid .on theupper: surface-thereof with a vertically idisposedxastabilizing fin II and opposed-fixed .wi-ngs 1.1;2 zzwhichgincline upwardly ata--small tangle =.relative toahorizontal plane --passing 2through.cthe. axis oftheabody H1. 'Thelatter 1. adjacent its front: end has a pair of movable @Wings .1 3a which: as seen in Fig-J 2,- are also-mpwardly inclined relative-to said-horizontalaxial plane; said. wings bei-ng preferably==-normally disposed-atan angle of 45 to the aforementioned :plane as wellas toesaid stabilizer I I which lies in. a vertical: axial-plane of the-body. The wings I 3-are-eachpivotally connected adjacent their forward ends=;to the wallof body! 0' asindicated at I l4; and: adj acent the-ir rear endssaid wings are each provided with a follower pin--l 5 which projectsv through a slot I 6 in the wall of=-body-|'0.

i-Pins 45 are actuated by means later referred -'to andathe pivot 14 provides for movement' 'of thenwings upon the pins l-5 being--moved such l-that? the: wingsretaintheir angular disposition relative tosaid'horizontat axial plane but are movable -relativeto p1-anes -inc1uding-' the axis of the bodyand the pivot 14w Body lnistub'ul'ar throughout its entire-length except for the front end whiohl-ispointedfor-fa-cilitating projection and said: pointed end may be-solid as shown. Additionally the-body has a slot !-8-adiacent it's forward endand; as seen in Figi- 4;tl1is slot is of substantial length and is disposed irr-the bottom wall portion-in-thevertical axial-plane "of the body. -A disk l9 =is1rem0vably secured in the rear endof body 'IDbyany-SuitabIe means and hasan air-tightfittherein;

A-pa-irof disks 2'!) are-rigidly supportedin predetermined spacedz' relation ona rod' 21 which extends/ within the cylindrical body I'fl axially thereof. -'-Said rod-extends-through apertures 20w inflthe respective disks and is rigi'dlwsecure'd therein-lay any suitable means. --A- cup-shaped gasket; or plunger 22 :is 'fiXedto the rear end of rod. 2|: and'is--located betweenthe disks 9 and 20,; AZcDiI ispringllii'sriszlocated between the gasket::.22 and the'.disk" i9-;.=.the forwardend of the; spring being;:secureci i toithe rearend-of rod ZJEandztherear end of said spring -iastened -to disk). 2| 9. T-he latten is provided with an ad-jn'st' able:- air. valve zd for -ai purpose which will appear later;

The-nreference numeral 25 #designates lug which normallyprojects through and is movable' in the slot 'l 8 and said-lug" is vertically slid'- ably disposed-'- in abracket 2B =se cured to the rear supported by the disk 20 and 20', each of said cam plates being formed with a slot providing a cam track 28 in which the aforementioned pins I5 ride in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter. Said cam plates are removably seated on the disks 2D, 20, but are rigidly held thereby and to attain this object said plates and disks are constructed as follows.

Each cam plate has a rear extension 29 removably seated in a conforming slot in disk 20' as can be seen in Fig. 4 and the forward end of each cam plate includes a pair of lugs .30 and adjacent shoulders 3I together with diverg-' ing forward extensions 32 constituting a wide converging entrance to cam track 28. Disk 20 has a pair of rectangular openings 33 and a pair of slots 34 extend into the disk from theopposed side walls defining each of the openings 33. In assembled position the extensions 32 extend through the openings 33, the lugs 30 seat in the slots 34 and the shoulders 3I.engage a face of the disk 2|] adjacent the slots 34. Thus the cam plates are rigidly held in position and by the provision of the openings 33 together with the fact that the relatively long thin cam plates are capable of flexing, the forward ends of the cam plates can readily be connected with the disk 20 after entrance of an extension 29 in a corresponding slot in disk 20'.

The movement of wings I3 iseifected by pins I5 riding in cam slots 28 and the character of the movement of said wings will, of course, be determined by the form or outline of the cam tracks and it is for this reason that the cam plates are removably supported .by the disks 20,

20' whereby cam plates having various forms of cam tracks may be selectively employed. In the assembly of the device, a pair of cam plates 21 are assembled with. disks 26, 20' outside of the cylindrical body I after which the lug 25 is pushed up into the bracket 26 and the assembly including disks 2U, 22', plates 21, rod 2I, gasket 22, and spring 23 are pushed forwardly into the body II] with closing disk I9 trailing the spring. Disk I9 is then fastened in the rear end ofthe body by any conventional means." In. the -assembly as above described the converging mouths defined by extensions 32 engage and direct the pins I into the cam track slots 23. 7

Spring 23, as shown, is a tension spring and urges the rod 2I together. with the disks 20, 2I' and gasket 22 toward the rear of the body and the disk 20 is normally slightly in advance of the pins I5, and at this point it is to be noted that the openings 33 in disk 20 providepassages for the pins during the assembly of the device,

In operation, the aircraft which in its disclosed form is that of a rocket, is launched by looping a rubber band or other extensible and contractible member over the lug 25 while holding the rear end of the body in one hand and with the other hand pulling forwardly on the band until lug 25 engages the forward end of slot I8 and in which position the pins I5 will be disposed in the rear ends of the cam slots. The band may be further tensioned and upon release of the rear end of the body, the device will be projected into the air at a chosen angle. After having drawn the assembly forward as described, the spring 23 will be substantially tenprovision of valve 24 such movement is retarded since gasket 22 can move rearwardly only as air is discharged from the chamber between same and the sealing disk I9. As previously mentioned, valve 24 is adjustable, that is to say, the area of the opening in said valve may be changed so that the rate of movement of the cam plates rearwardly can be varied within relatively wide limits.

I It will now be understood that rearward movement of the cam plates causes the pins I5 to be moved laterally of planes disposed at 45 angles to the horizontal axial plane of the body, with the result that the rear ends of Wings I3 will be alternately raised and lowered within a corresponding downward and upward movement of the aircraft during the flight thereof. The cam sioned as a result of which it will tend. to move symmetrical to a longitudinal :center line of the plates but they may be variously formed and one-track may be of a radically different character than the other, whereby, for example, sidewise movements will be imparted to the aircraft.

As heretofore stated, the invention is not limited to the-form of body shown and described nor to the specific form and disposition of fixed and movable wings' l2 and I3, respectively, carried thereby. The wings I3 may be disposed at angles other than that disclosed and may in fact be horizontally positioned. Also the aircraft may be projected, if desired, by other motive power.

While the invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the exact construction shown as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is contemplated to cover all such variations and to be limited in this res'pect only as may be necessary by the scope of the claims hereto appended. 7

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a toy aircraft, an elongated hollow body, wings movably supported by the body, elongated cam plates movable longitudinally of the body, each plate having a cam track cooperating with a'wing for movement of the latter, spring means within the body having one end secured to said plates-and its opposite end to a stationary part of the body, and aplunge'r and valve in the body for controlling the speed of movement of said 1plates by said-spring upon tensioning of the lat- 2. Ina toyiaircraft, an elongated hollow body having slots in the wall thereof at each side of an axial vertical plane, a pair of wings, each pivotally 'connectedadjacent'one end to said wall and each having a follower pin extending through one of said slots, an elongated cam plate having a cam track engaged by each of said follower pins, means supporting said :cam plates for movement longitudinally within said body, a tension spring within saidflbody normally urging said plates rearwardly of the body and a lug connected to said supporting means engageable by an extensible and contractible'launching member, in the action of which the cam plates are moved forwardly of the' body against the action of said spring.

3. The structure of 'claiin 2, and wherein said cam plates are removably supported by a pair of spaced disks having a rod extending axially therethrough and rigidly connected therewith, a gasket-having an air-tight engagement with the inner wall of the .body and rigidly connected with a miniature motor or the rod adjacent the rear end of the body. an air-tight closure disk removably supported in the rear end of the body and having an adjustable air valve, said spring being disposed between and connected to said gasket and said closure disk.

4. In a toy aircraft, an elongated hollow body, wings movably supported by the body, cam plates movable longitudinally of the body and each having a cam track cooperating with a wing, said plates being manually movable forwardly of the body, spring means urging the plates rearwardly of the body, and adjustable valve means in the body for controlling the speed of movement of said plates.

5. In a toy aircraft, an elongated hollow body, wings movably supported by the body, elongated cam plates movable longitudinally of the body, each platehaving a cam track cooperating with a wing for movement of the latter, springmeans 20 within the body, a plunger and adjustable valve means in the body, said plunger being secured to said plates and said spring means having one end secured to said plunger and its opposite end to a stationary part of the body, said spring urging the Plates rearwardly and said valve controlling the speed of movement of said plates.

6. In a toy aircraft, a hollow body, wings movably supported by the body, cam plates within the body movable longitudinally. thereof, each plate having a, cam track cooperating witha wing to move same, means for moving the plates in one direction, resilient means connected to said plates urging the plates in the opposite direction, and valve means for controlling the speed of movement of said plates.

EDWARD W. STRONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,388,620 Turner Aug. 23, 1921 1,583,155 Jacobs May 4, 1926 2,098,019 Weimerskirch Nov. 2, 193'? 2,277,882 Quady Mar. 31, 1942 

